diff --git a/lib/include/srslte/common/metrics_hub.h b/lib/include/srslte/common/metrics_hub.h
index 5dc22f7c1..ac0b6a8a7 100644
--- a/lib/include/srslte/common/metrics_hub.h
+++ b/lib/include/srslte/common/metrics_hub.h
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ public:
   bool init(metrics_interface<metrics_t> *m_, float report_period_secs_=1.0) {
     m = m_;
     report_period_secs = report_period_secs_;
-    start_periodic(report_period_secs*1e6);
+    // Start with user-default priority
+    start_periodic(report_period_secs*1e6, -2);
     return true;
   }
   void stop() {
diff --git a/lib/include/srslte/common/threads.h b/lib/include/srslte/common/threads.h
index 077dda72b..e87407870 100644
--- a/lib/include/srslte/common/threads.h
+++ b/lib/include/srslte/common/threads.h
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 
+// Default priority for all threads below UHD threads
+#define DEFAULT_PRIORITY 60
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
     extern "C" {
 #endif // __cplusplus
diff --git a/lib/src/common/threads.c b/lib/src/common/threads.c
index 0533aa1b6..b6fa31778 100644
--- a/lib/src/common/threads.c
+++ b/lib/src/common/threads.c
@@ -67,6 +67,20 @@ bool threads_new_rt_cpu(pthread_t *thread, void *(*start_routine) (void*), void
       fprintf(stderr, "Error not enough privileges to set Scheduling priority\n");
     }
     attr_enable = true;
+  } else if (prio_offset == -1) {
+    param.sched_priority = sched_get_priority_max(SCHED_FIFO) - DEFAULT_PRIORITY;
+    pthread_attr_init(&attr);
+    if (pthread_attr_setinheritsched(&attr, PTHREAD_EXPLICIT_SCHED)) {
+      perror("pthread_attr_setinheritsched");
+    }
+    if (pthread_attr_setschedpolicy(&attr, SCHED_FIFO)) {
+      perror("pthread_attr_setschedpolicy");
+    }
+    if (pthread_attr_setschedparam(&attr, &param)) {
+      perror("pthread_attr_setschedparam");
+      fprintf(stderr, "Error not enough privileges to set Scheduling priority\n");
+    }
+    attr_enable = true;
   } else if (prio_offset == -2) {
     param.sched_priority = 0;
     pthread_attr_init(&attr);
diff --git a/lib/src/phy/rf/rf_uhd_imp.c b/lib/src/phy/rf/rf_uhd_imp.c
index c9c3c4866..c57a63095 100644
--- a/lib/src/phy/rf/rf_uhd_imp.c
+++ b/lib/src/phy/rf/rf_uhd_imp.c
@@ -562,7 +562,10 @@ int rf_uhd_open_multi(char *args, void **h, uint32_t nof_channels)
       perror("pthread_create");
       return -1; 
     }
-    
+
+    /* Restore priorities  */
+    uhd_set_thread_priority(0, false);
+
     return 0;
   } else {
     return SRSLTE_ERROR_INVALID_INPUTS; 
diff --git a/srsue/hdr/mac/mac.h b/srsue/hdr/mac/mac.h
index b1b649de7..ee79456fc 100644
--- a/srsue/hdr/mac/mac.h
+++ b/srsue/hdr/mac/mac.h
@@ -112,8 +112,8 @@ public:
 private:  
   void run_thread(); 
   
-  static const int MAC_MAIN_THREAD_PRIO = 5; 
-  static const int MAC_PDU_THREAD_PRIO  = 6;
+  static const int MAC_MAIN_THREAD_PRIO = -1; // Use default high-priority below UHD
+  static const int MAC_PDU_THREAD_PRIO  = -1;
   static const int MAC_NOF_HARQ_PROC    = 2*HARQ_DELAY_MS;
 
   // Interaction with PHY